- At the Castle, Ersten, The Capital of the Kingdom of Apollyon–

- Around 5.30 pm-

The two sat in the waiting room as the king’s aide left after she stated that they should wait for several minutes. It was silent until Christina broke the ice as she tried to fan herself with her hand.

“Dear me… this place is quite hot, isn’t it? Want me to use some temperature control spell?”

“Sure, though, I don’t think that this place is hot at all. By the way…” he has this peeved look on his face. “Care to tell me why we’re meeting the king? Well… I do plan to meet him and tell him everything about what I told to you all earlier but, how did you make an appointment before I came?”

Christina chuckled nervously, “well… It actually wasn’t an appointment… I forced him to have me meet him today, it happened last night as you were asleep, I was using a long-range magic communication device”

“You forced him…?”

“yes”

Jaeger pinched his forehead, letting out an exasperated sighing “I have no words regarding that…”

Not long, the aide returned to the room and asked them to follow her as the King permitted them to meet him. The castle’s interior design is very different from the one back in Nelimista’s capital. Unlike the maze-like design, the castle is very easy to venture into while having tight security within it. Though, the long hallway towards the throne room has the most interesting sight of them all as it displays the history of the Kingdom itself, from the events of the first to the current King. And a lot of armour was displayed beside the pictures of the kings, most likely the knight’s armour from generation to generation. At the same time as they were walking through that hallway, the sun is setting and all of the internal lights were turned on in sync. Jaeger asked the Aide in curiosity if the lights in the castle were provided with Magic. As such, she chuckled.

“With all due respect sir, this is common sense here for using magic as a source of nighttime lighting. Even the children in this kingdom have learned to make circuits at the age of 6.” She then cast a light ball spell as an example. “Since using magic is far more economical than using torches, our kingdom focuses on magic and science research to improve our lives. Until the war happens and it became a weapon research institute…”

She has this irritated face as she said it. They then reached the door of the Throne Room; the aide then opened the door after reporting to the guards guarding it and proceed to open it. The three then entered the room, across them is the King, sitting on his throne… slouching?

*cough* “Honourable guests, you’re in the presence of His Majesty, Somnus Ignacia Von Apollyon, the 12th Reigning King” during that introduction, The King’s eyes grew wide as he saw Christina glared at him acting lazily, he then quickly sat upright and welcomed them, and then ordered his aide and his servants that are present in the room to leave as he wanted to speak privately with the two. As the last servant closes the door of the room, the King sighed and sat just like before.

“Ugh… what do you want again granny Flora? It’s the 3rd time this month you wanted to meet me... you’re quite a pain to deal with you know…” Christina held her irritation away as she was being called granny while behind her, Jaeger is trying to hold his laughter from coming out

“Oi, ya’ lazy disciple of mine, I told you last night remember? Or did you forget about it…”

“Eh… about what?”

“About my son! you little piece of sh-“. Jaeger only sigh at the sight of both bickering at each other and clapped once that was loud enough to get their attention.

“I think you both are straying away from the point of this meeting, let’s get back on track, shall we? And first of all… why are we here in the first place dear mother?” Christina, rather than agreeing like the king, had this look of discontent towards him.

“Hearing you sounding so formal doesn’t feel like it’s you from the first impression you gave me Achilles, stop that”

“Wha- I’m trying to be courteous in from of his majesty here”

“Really? for this chubby little guy?” his majesty could only sigh and till this day, the thought of Christina as his old mentor & teacher for subjects like politics and economy is astounding since her behaviour is the opposite of what a scholar should act.

“If you weren’t the Archmage and my teacher, I would’ve executed you right on spot… I’m trying to enjoy my spare time today if you should know!”

“Yet, fate has a different plan isn’t it Sommy?”

“Would you please stop calling me by that embarrassing nickname Christina, I’m already in my forties.” Somnus glanced at Jaeger that’s letting an inaudible small chuckle and changed his tone.

“Well then son of the Archmage, I was told by my ancestors that both you and Hero August were transported back to his home world and yet, you’re present here with your mother as you, in a roundabout way, asked her to meet me, and now bowing in front of me. care to tell me the whole story and the matter regarding it” the king also called back his retainers that were present that time to the room as he also wanted them to hear the reason Jaeger wanted to meet the king himself.

The mercenary started his explanation with the finding of a planet that he and his colleagues call “Verdia” several days ago, the plan to investigate and to make contact, and the hero summoning that made him get dragged into the mess they made. His retainers that were present were surprised as it was a story that was far-fetched to them, though, their king has an expression that he knew it beforehand making the Kingdom’s advisor question him.

“Impossible… taking flights between worlds without transfer magic… how absurd” muttered one of the King’s retainers.

“He wasn’t lying about how he could arrive here without magic as I received a report from our astronomers that the stars they were observing were obscured by an unknown object that doesn’t resemble something natural.” Says Somnus as he emphasized Jaeger’s statement. His retainers let out a resounding ooh as they let it out simultaneously. The mercenary has a questioning look with a raised eyebrow as he glanced at Christina that says, “they have astronomers here?”.

“Yes, I was the one that funded and supervise them, though I might say it’s still far from Earth’s technology”

“uh-huh…”

“Say, how big is that ship? Is it around 100 meters or more? August told me that shipbuilding on Earth is highly advanced” though Jaeger wanted to ask how their world uses metric measurement, he hesitated as he remembered how past summoned people were advancing this world’s technology with their knowledge and hypothesise that it’s his father’s doings for the introduction to a measurement system.

“It was around 2.3km long as I remember”

“WHAT??” to his surprise, everyone in the room gasp so audibly, that it echoed throughout the hall. “Is everyone in this world this dramatic? I can’t get used to this” he thought to himself.

“It’s not a normal ship. Its sole purpose is to travel between stars and thus require a lot of fuel and supplies” murmurs were spewing around as it was an overwhelming size to the noble’s eyes as that ship is far grander than their navy. The king smirked and laughed.

“Dear god, your husband’s world is full of surprises, isn’t it? And yet your son brought a fascinating one! This clearly has made my day less dull today. Care to tell me more?”

“But your majesty! You’ll need to attend- “. the king put a finger to shut the aide that’s reminding him about something.

“Shhh… that can wait later, this one is far more important. And please manage the appointment with those nobles, they’re actually quite an annoyance by requesting me to meet them during my rest day” the aide, was slightly annoyed and left the room, acknowledging her task that was given. Though everyone in the room has a look that says, “you’re just lazy to meet them aren’t you?”.

“Now then, continue your story Wolfenford.”

“Right…”

He then told more of the stories from his world without a lie about what was currently happening, especially major conflicts appearing here and there. Though, he uses his hologram footage to display his memories about the war while simultaneously explaining it. At first, the revelation of hologram tech shocked them but after he reassured them that it was just a wonderful work of technology, most of the retainers calmed down. The King was very entertained as Jaeger’s story is full of colours as it was dreadful yet beautiful at the same time. The bonding he has with his fellow teammate to overcome the odds and to the end, only a few survived the calamity of war, it shed tears to them.

“Wolfenford, son, I have my condolences for everything you’ve been through. And thank you for entertaining me with your war stories from your past.”

“Not a problem your majesty, I’m just a mercenary but if these stories entertain you, I will gladly tell them more, though… I actually came here isn’t just for a reunion and whatnot… may I request a proposal?” Somnus nodded and let him proceed to say his proposal.

“I’m here to bridge diplomatic relations between planets but all I can see are disputes here and there in Verdia, though, I could request my forces that are moored on the moon to land here and provide support if this nation becomes our ally, from military training to providing weapons.” Hearing so, the retainers that were present had gleeful smiles as it was like great news for them, the war that spanned for generations could be ended quickly by having a such powerful ally. They then fiercely requested the king to accept his proposal, however…

“But there’s always compensation for it is it? Sir mercenary?” the king has his harrowing stare towards Jaeger that has a small smirk.

“Guess you looked through me didn’t you, your majesty?” he then told him about the agreement for it, though it was very straightforward.

“You want all of our military to be under your command and under no circumstance that the nobles that commanded in the past will act at their own discretion without your approval?”

“Yes, as you know, the war that you all fought for the past hundreds of years is the same cavalry-infantry style of warfare with swords, arrows and *cough* magic and thus, to make this kingdom military fully adapt to Earth’s style of warfare, I need your soldiers to fully understand the dreadful meaning of modern warfare that discard one’s honour or glory” his crimson eyes looked at the King with a solemn yet sorrowful look, the look of someone that seen death on his doorsteps way too many times to count. The King’s retainers rather disagreed with his proposal as they doesn’t like the idea of war without honour. He then continued his sentence.

“Though, I would ask why would you send some of the mu- I mean demi-human-like soldiers to battle? As if you’re trying to fool the world that this kingdom has fallen into the demon’s hands”

“Ah that… it’s my ancestor’s idea, though at first, the transformation spell has a flaw when it was applied, it would sacrifice one’s sanity and become a real demon instead. Through generations, we were sceptical if we should keep sending soldiers and letting them die as a lunatic as it was opposed by human ethics until my daughter, the First Princess, managed to find a safer option due to her research and created a “demonize potion” as she calls it. the only side effect it has is once we use the potion, our mana circulation rested permanently” after hearing so, one of the retainers walked in front of Jaeger and then bowed to the king.

“Hmm? What is the matter Margrave Quartia?” he asked after secretly picking his nose

“I beg your pardon Your majesty for my imprudent action, but may I be given permission to speak?” Somnus nodded, and the Margrave raised his head. “Are you going to accept this young lad’s proposal, this might ruin our country’s dignity and honour in the future. And isn’t that information considered a national secret?” the king hummed and stood up.

“Listen here! All of you knew that Count Christina is my beloved mentor, and as such, this young mercenary that’s also her son, is considered my special guest! I will accept his terms of the proposal to end this bloody hundred-year war and I gave permission to him to access our confidential archives! Any acts of aggression towards my guests are to be recognized as treason, this is a royal decree! Do I make myself clear?!” his declaration echoed throughout the hall, even the corridors of the castle. Trembling, Margrave Quartia understood and went back to the place where he stand back a moment ago. The King’s aide that just finished Somnus’s orders facepalmed herself and rest her back on the doorframe as she knows he decided without any of the council’s consent… again.

“Oh, for God’s sake your majesty! Why did you make that decision without consent from the senate!” he just chuckled and nonchalantly walks to his exit on the left of his throne. “Your majesty! Where are you going?! How do I explain this to the senate now!?”

“Just explain that this is for our nation’s future investment, I have a feeling that he could turn the tide of this conflict to our favour. Also, I’m going back to my chamber, thanks to the old hag over there wasting part of my leisure moment…” the two master-disciple glared at each other for a moment and clicked their tongue, Somnus then left without a word after telling his maid to guide them to the guest room. The audience then left one by one, after both Christina and Jaeger proceeded to leave the room with one of the maids guiding them. In the hallway, the two stumbled upon the Aide again, still looking frustrated. Feeling sympathetic, Christina threw her arm around the Aide’s shoulder, with a smile.

“Hey, what’s with the irritated expression? Want to chat with us? It’s going to be fun”

“Not gonna lie, you sounded like you’re an old guy trying to pick up teenage girls”

“Will you shut up for a second Achilles?” the aide giggled at their unique parent-child chemistry, “My…. You two sure made me reminisce on how I was with my father, chatting with witty remarks on serious occasions” The two smiled as they saw her smile. The Aide later introduced her name to Jaeger. Clarisa Lester, a noble from house of Tamarine, a county situated on the Sudlenddorf island, she has been the King’s Aide since he was married with the late Queen, she didn’t told him anymore else about herself except the ones that was mentioned.

“Well then, I will gladly accept your invitation Count Eoflora”

Later on in Christina’s room, they talk a bunch, even until the moon already shine brightly in the skies and the calm yet cool breeze from the window flow inside. As they were enjoying the tea that was made by the maid, the mercenary remembered something, “By the way Miss Tamarine, does his majesty always been troubling you all these years? You seem to be very exhausted due to his shenanigans”

“Achilles, that was impolite of you, even if it’s only their aide that’s currently present” Clarisa sighed, rubbing her forehead. “No, it’s fine Count Eoflora. I must be blunt; the King is not just always giving petty yet troubling request… he’s lazy to the point most of the attendances on meetings and every political is attended by me…ughh…”

“Well that sounds troubling”

“Indeed! But all of his orders made this nation thrive that I can’t even comprehend how he did that or maybe it’s just pure luck. Worst of all, at weekends, he never left his sleeping chamber with reasoning such as “it’s hot today” or “I’m having cold, don’t come inside”, LIKE HELL HE’S SICK!! HE ONLY WANTED TO LAY DOWN HIS RIDICIOULOUSLY HUMOUNGOUS WEIGHT ALL DAY!” the two chuckled as Clarise ranted everything although she’s not drunk, but they all stopped as they saw someone familiar standing behind Clarise that’s still groaning in frustration.

“Hmm… I see… I’m just an indolent king that doesn’t want to move a finger since my weight is slowing me down, is that what you think of me my dear beloved aide?”

“ah- y-your majesty! I’m-“ Somnus sighed and patted her shoulders. “I’ll deal with your matter later, but right now, pardon me for intrude to this room unnoticed and without knocking, but I wanted to inform you two, Granny and Sir Wolfenford, personally about the schedule tomorrow, it seems the whole council wanted to see if your words were true about having an alliance between worlds”